A repost of those funky new weapons. Are these legit?

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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Weapons

I know there was a discussion but I just don't believe it. That assault rifle yes, I've read about it. But a laser death beam on a 747? We can really do that? And the underwater missile...ok...but the thing that shoots out little robots? That sounds like starcraft or something!

Whats with this laser beam plane anyway...how much destructive power does it have? Can it take out a tank? How fast can it fire? Why don't we have a fleet of these in the skies?

OH and while we're at it read lowtax's take somethingawful
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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the 747 laser is a left over from the SDI. i dunno about the torpedo
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
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there was a mention of the new rifle and laser on 747 in an old issue of popular mechanics if memory serves. it was like more than a year ago though.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
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Last I heard the Land Warrior System was still being developed, but they had functional prototypes several years ago, it's not intended for every ground pounder, but they're supposed to be one per squad?

The laser in a 747 is real, don't know how functional it is in a combat situation though.

We've got lots of good toys that do work really well though.
 

Flat

Banned
Jan 18, 2001
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Is that some kind of joke? Calling the EF111A Raven, U2 our greatest weapons? And the Tornado, while a great plane its not flown by the US!
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
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I think there were going thru nato weaponary, not just US.

Last I heard the Land Warrior System was still being developed, but they had functional prototypes several years ago, it's not intended for every ground pounder, but they're supposed to be one per squad?

Actually its supposed to for every soldier, but its still under development. Those things are VERY expensive and quite heavy. I think the latest problem they were facing was the battery life - about 10-12 hrs betwwen charging
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
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Yeah I read about that warrior deal too. It was not supposed to be rolled out for years though due to it being costsly and it was going to raise the price of the average soldier. Of course it would raise his lethality as well.

This plane blows my mind, however. I'm surprised we're at that stage already. Seems like a great companion to when the US makes assasinations legal.
 

ttn1

Senior member
Oct 24, 2000
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The laser in the 747 is actually being built. I have heard about some of the development that went into them and it is absolutely amazing. They are chemical lasers, that use what is very similar to a rocket engine to create the lasing effect. Hardest part of getting them to work effectively is the targeting system. Leave them on too long and they burn themselves up.

The laser is very powerful. Not exactly sure of the wattage. Suffice it to say if a human was targeted you would be vaporized and it could be done from miles away. Plan is to burn the protective casing off the front of the missile and then it will self destruct. A ground based version has already successfully shot down missiles. The original plan called for satellite based versions, I believe.

ttn1
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
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A ground based version has already successfully shot down missiles. The original plan called for satellite based versions, I believe.

Isn't that starwars? I'm rather randy about the entire thing because I see that eventually when enough of these nations get these things it will make nuclear missile attack an imposibility and that is something I like, because something I don't like is the idea of a country shooting off a whack of missiles at me.

Its also gonna be easier on the LAPD - instead of having to knock a car out of the way during a police chase they can vaporize it!